Singita Grumeti & Lamai
Singita Grumeti & Lamai: October 2024
October has been a month to remember here on the Grumeti Reserve. The landscape, which started the month looking dry and bare, transformed almost overnight. Early rains softened the earth, and soon, the plains burst into life, covered in fresh green grass, a clear invitation to grazers to come and feed. Vast herds of wildebeest, zebras, and other animals are making their journey southward. The reserve is alive with movement, and the migrating animals bring with them a heightened presence of predators.
Eland gathered in large herds for calving season. The area north of Faru Faru Lodge and Fort Ikoma airstrip were full of young calves staying close to their mothers. The little ones brought a lively energy, sometimes hopping and skipping along as they got used to their new surroundings.
At Lamai October was very popular for wildebeest crossings from north to south as the herds continue their journey to the southern Serengeti. A lot of the crossing were witnessed between Crossing Zero and Three, with numerous crocodile attacks. Guides and guests didn’t need to go far to see crossings.
October sightings snapshot for Grumeti:
Lions:
The lions this month were truly remarkable, and we experienced some fascinating encounters in the reserve. With the migration passing through all our lions are in very good condition.
- Butamtam Pride spent their time around Koroya Hill, Chui drainage, and Pundamilia Hill, rarely north of Fort Ikoma.
- Kombre Pride is getting stronger and stronger. They roamed along Kombre drainage, the rhino boma, and the open plains north of OP 2. Their 11 cubs are doing well and are healthy.
- Ridge Pride have extended their territory as they are seen at Sasakwa Dam area, Ridge Hill, Sabora Access, all the way to Old Rubana Link and Mak Link areas. Their cubs have grown to sub-adult stage.
- Nyasirori Pride are seen south of Nyasirori Ranger Post, Nyasirori high ground and along the Serengeti boundary line.
- Sabora Pride, recently formed with a coalition of four lions and six lionesses, was seen along Sabora drainage, the morum pit and Fisi plain, continue to do well as they establish their territory around Sabora area.
- Mkuyu Pride has split up and we keep seeing two to six individuals spending time in between Mbogo drainage, Grumeti River and Grumeti north drainage.
Leopards:
Leopard sightings were extraordinary this month.
- Mbogo drainage female and her two cubs continue to be seen for the most part of the month along the drainage both upstream and downstream from Fort Ikoma. All three animals are doing well and cubs are relaxed.
- Mother and one cub were sighted along Raho drainage upstream of the Kigelia Crossing.
- We had great sightings of the big male at Arab Camp thicket. He is not seen often simply because of his unusual style of lying down in the grass or bushes.
- We had a full grown skittish male seen under the culvert west of Sasakwa, and at the end of the month he was seen feeding on a buffalo carcass along Farasi Road.
- The Serengeti Hill male was seen along the Den-site Road, and he entered an abandoned hyenas’ burrow.
Cheetahs:
With the green grass and gazelles filling up the open plains we experienced a lot more cheetah sightings.
- Junior Veteran was seen around Old School areas, Pundamilia areas, Nyati plain and Sabora plain.
- A new young female was seen south of marsh area, and north of OP 2. Another female was seen in the Albizia woodland.
- Various territorial adult males were out patrolling.
- The mother and one sub-adult female cub were seen west of Sabora Camp.
Elephants:
- Sasakwa Dam is one of the best places to view large herds during the day as they come to drink, and we also had large herds up on Sasakwa Hill few times in the month.
- Good sightings were had elsewhere, especially around the permanent water sources.
Buffalos:
- Large herds seen on the Sabora plain, Sasakwa plain, Gambaranyera plain, Romoti Triangle and along the river system.
- Relatively small herd around Faru areas mostly seen west of Faru Access.
Rhino:
- Eric and Laikipia were seen moving around together for more than a week, in the middle of the month, and Zaitun continues to grow in body size and strength.
Other interesting sightings:
- Grumeti Reserve was alive with Intra-African and Palearctic migrant birds this month. It was the best month for bird viewing on the open plains, woodland and the riverine areas. Some of the specials included: black cuckooshrike, African cuckoo, northern wheatear, European roller, European bee-eater, Steppe eagle, Wahlberg eagle, African golden oriole and pallid harrier.
October sightings snapshot for Lamai:
Wildebeest migration:
- There were two medium-sized herds, one seen along Kampikampi plain and the other one seen often near the Maasai Mara and Serengeti boundary.
Lions:
- Kigelia Pride has been the highlight, consisting of 12 members - two adult males, seven adult females, and three cubs. They were mostly viewed for the whole month along Korongo la Kigelia and Korongo la Fisi.
Leopards:
- The old male leopard known as “Kunta”, which means hard, is very popular for his resilience in the area because of his ability to survive around lions and hyenas. He was viewed often along Kenyangaga drainage, having established himself as a resident between Mara River Tented Camp and Daraja Jeusi.
Cheetahs:
- There was single male cheetah seen near the Maasai Mara and Serengeti boundary.
Elephants:
- Elephant sightings were abundant, with large herds passing through the camp and even crossing the river in front of the camp. Many elephants gathered along Daraja Mbili drainage and the Kampikampi plains.
Plains game:
- There were some lovely herds of topis, gazelles, elands and giraffes observed scattered around Kenyangaga ranger post areas and Kampikampi plains.
Other interesting sightings:
- A relaxed female serval was seen, making us to think she has a den around the area, and we hope to see her kittens soon.